Grand Processional March, Op. 25 (FIREWORKS for JUL 4th!)

Samuel Brenton Whitney (4 June 1842, Woodstock, Vermont – 3 August 1914, Brattleboro, Vermont) was an organist, conductor and composer. His compositions were primarily church music and chamber works.

He was a pupil of Charles Wels of New York and then John Knowles Paine of Cambridge, Massachusetts. He secured his first organ appointment in Cambridge. He came to be regarded as the greatest interpreter of Johann Sebastian Bach in the United States, and was appointed professor of organ playing and lecturer in music at the Boston University and the New England Conservatory. In 1871 he was appointed organist and choir director of the Church of the Advent, Boston. His compositions included many anthems and other church pieces, songs, pianoforte music, sonatas, transcriptions, and arrangements for the organ.

The "Grand Processional March, Op. 25" was published by Arthur P. Schmidt. It is dedicated: "To Mr. Walter G. Ingalls, Worcester, Mass."

I can not imagine a grander, more perfect Fourth of July piece than this one! If you're a Sousa fan, you're in for an even bigger bang. :-)

I uploaded the first section of this back in 2013, thinking it was the complete piece, but there is much, much more. You'll need to be nimble and have a lot of energy to bring this off in style.

Whitney was held in great esteem by his organist colleagues. Apparently, he had been quite ill, and this piece was published in an "organists' magazine" and delivered to all subscribers. The intent and request was that ALL ORGANISTS (at least those able!) play THIS piece as their Postlude on a particular Sunday. The significance was as an act of thanksgiving to celebrate Whitney's return to health and to his duties at the Church of the Advent.

Can you imagine something like this happening today?!?

The score is attached below, as well as photos of Whitney and the Church of the Advent.

Please see the FIRST COMMENT for an inspiring text.

I wish you all Happy Fourth of July!

Let freedom ring!